Ukraine Claims It Sunk a Top Russian Warship
2022-04-15
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1Ukrainian officials say their forces struck Russia's flagship in the Black Sea with missiles, causing it to sink Thursday.
2Russia said the ship was damaged but did not sink.
3The Moskva is named for the Russian capital, Moscow.
4If the ship did sink, it would be a major victory for Ukraine and a big loss for Russia.
5Russia said a fire on the warship forced all crew members to leave but it was being taken back to a port.
6A spokesperson did not say the cause.
7The ship carries 16 long-distance missiles.
8If it is not able to be used, it will reduce Russia's firepower in the Black Sea while it is repaired.
9Satellite images could not independently show if the ship was still afloat because of cloudy weather.
10The news of the attack came at the same time Eastern European leaders gave statements of support for Ukraine.
11The country has been under attack by Russia since February 24.
12Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda said "the fight for Europe's future is happening here."
13U.S. President Joe Biden recently approved $800 million in new military aid for Ukraine, saying: "We cannot rest now."
14The news of the damaged ship took attention from the fighting going on in the southern city of Mariupol.
15Russian defense officials said over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers recently surrendered there.
16But Vadym Denysenko, an interior ministry official, said that was not correct and his soldiers were still fighting.
17The area of Mariupol is critical for Russia because it would connect Russian troops in the Crimean Peninsula with allied Russian fighters in the Donbas area in eastern Ukraine.
18If the Moskva is damaged or sunk, it might hold back those efforts.
19Ukrainian military advisers said the removal of the ship had "colossal significance" because it carries 16 long-range missiles.
20Russia said a fire on the ship caused an explosion.
21American national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he could not confirm Ukraine's claims of damaging the ship.
22But he said it "is a big blow to Russia,"
23because it shows either a successful Ukrainian attack or a mistake made by Russian crew members that caused a fire.
24"Neither is a particularly good outcome for them," he said.
25The Associated Press said it could not independently confirm the incident.
26I'm Dan Friedell.
1Ukrainian officials say their forces struck Russia's flagship in the Black Sea with missiles, causing it to sink Thursday. 2Russia said the ship was damaged but did not sink. 3The Moskva is named for the Russian capital, Moscow. 4If the ship did sink, it would be a major victory for Ukraine and a big loss for Russia. 5Russia said a fire on the warship forced all crew members to leave but it was being taken back to a port. A spokesperson did not say the cause. 6The ship carries 16 long-distance missiles. If it is not able to be used, it will reduce Russia's firepower in the Black Sea while it is repaired. 7Satellite images could not independently show if the ship was still afloat because of cloudy weather. 8The news of the attack came at the same time Eastern European leaders gave statements of support for Ukraine. The country has been under attack by Russia since February 24. 9Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda said "the fight for Europe's future is happening here." 10U.S. President Joe Biden recently approved $800 million in new military aid for Ukraine, saying: "We cannot rest now." 11The news of the damaged ship took attention from the fighting going on in the southern city of Mariupol. Russian defense officials said over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers recently surrendered there. 12But Vadym Denysenko, an interior ministry official, said that was not correct and his soldiers were still fighting. 13The area of Mariupol is critical for Russia because it would connect Russian troops in the Crimean Peninsula with allied Russian fighters in the Donbas area in eastern Ukraine. 14If the Moskva is damaged or sunk, it might hold back those efforts. 15Ukrainian military advisers said the removal of the ship had "colossal significance" because it carries 16 long-range missiles. 16Russia said a fire on the ship caused an explosion. 17American national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he could not confirm Ukraine's claims of damaging the ship. But he said it "is a big blow to Russia," because it shows either a successful Ukrainian attack or a mistake made by Russian crew members that caused a fire. 18"Neither is a particularly good outcome for them," he said. 19The Associated Press said it could not independently confirm the incident. 20I'm Dan Friedell. 21Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by The Associated Press. 22Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 23_______________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25flagship -n. the ship that carries the commander of a group of ships 26critical - adj. extremely important 27colossal - adj. extremely large or great 28blow - n. a sudden event that causes trouble or damage 29particularly - adv. showing something should have extra attention or is notable